Colorado Springs is a huge city that is very spread out. There are so many things to do here, for tourists or locals. Even on a rainy day, you and your kids can find a way to have a great time. It gets extremely hot here in the summer and cold in the winter, as locals know. When you need to escape from the elements, here are some wonderful places to take your kids. Most don’t cost much and are only a short drive away.
Kids of all ages enjoy Chuck E. Cheese’s. They have pizza for the kids and a salad bar for health-conscious adults. Big kids and toddlers are both catered to with games and rides for both. Adults will enjoy some of their arcade favorites like Skeeball. When you’re out of tokens, the kids can exhaust themselves in the play place. It has tunnels, stairs, a slides, and a room where you pretend to drive a car. Your children can watch Chuck E. and his band perform, and they can even get on TV with him! If they’re lucky they may even get to meet the mouse himself, who often walks around to make sure everyone is having fun. Ours is located on North Academy Blvd in a shopping center near the Union intersection.
Pump It Up! is an inflatable wonderland. You can have a private party any day of the week or come in on Tuesday or Thursday for pop-in-play. It’s only $6 a person. Kids under 2 and parents are free! They have a giant slide, huge bouncing center, a gladiator arena (with safety gear), and an obstacle course. There’s even little ride and push toys for wee ones. There are two separate rooms for big and little kids for safety. Even parents will have fun climbing, bouncing, and sliding with their kids. There is no arcade and no refreshment counter. However, they do have air hockey tables and vending machines. Pump It Up! is located off of Tutt near the Barnes intersection by the police station.
You can also go swimming inside in the summer. We have two amazing indoor pools that are really like mini-water parks. Each charges only $3 a person, half off on Wednesdays. The Aquatics and Fitness Center is bigger. They have 3 lap lanes, a general swimming area, a small lazy river that goes under a waterfall, a large water slide, underwater chairs with fizzling bubbles, a hot tub, and a jungle gym in a wading pool. All of these areas are connected, joined into one big pool. There’s something for everyone. If you live farther northeast, you can try the Cottonwood Creek Recreation Center off of Dublin. They have a wave pool, whirlpool, water slide, and more.
The Citadel Mall seems an unlikely place for entertaining kids, but it can be fun. There’s an arcade downstairs that older kids will love. Tiny tots will enjoy the playground and kiddie rides. The food court has water fountains to enjoy, and everyone loves a Happy Meal. The elevator is made of glass, which is a delight for kids of all ages. You must stop in the Discovery Channel Store, where kids can try out all of the neat (and educational) gadgets. Get a cinnamon and sugar pretzel, or stop buy the candy store. Hopefully if you do all of the things your kids want to do, they’ll be nice enough to let you browse JC Penney’s for a few minutes! It’s located off of Powers between Galley and Platte.
Picture Show is across from the Citadel Mall. They play movies just before they go out on video. It’s only $1 a ticket and 50 cents on Tuesdays. Bring some extra cash for concessions! There are usually lots of youngsters and the showings. They almost always have a good kids movie playing.
Bowling is another form of cheap, indoor entertainment. This is for older kids, who will enjoy the game as much as adults. They may be frustrated if they don’t do well, but make it fun. Find weird ways to roll the ball. Have a wacky pose contest. Be silly! Buy some nachos and pizza at the refreshment counter, and make a night of it. At Brunswick Zone off of Circle, Wednesday is $1 beer night. Don’t go overboard, though. (And don’t give any to the kids!) There’s also King Pin off of Academy. Both have game rooms. The whole family is sure to have a lot of fun.
Older kids also love skating. We have a roller rink off of Academy near the Constitution intersection. Skate City is affordable and has many discounts. They have a game room and refreshments counter as well. The Chapel Hills Mall has an ice rink. Even those who can’t ice skate will have fun slipping and sliding. Parents should skate, too. There’s nothing funnier than a wobbly daddy on wheels or a slippery mama falling on her butt!
Mr. Biggs Family Fun Center has $1 bowling and a $4.99 buffet. There are plenty of indoor activities, including laser tag and of course an arcade. They also feature Battletech, an interactive virtual reality game that up to 12 people can play at a time. Little Big Town is an attraction built just for toddlers, a whole town to play in that is just their size. Outside there’s even more to do. Best of all they are reasonably priced. There is something for everyone at Mr. Biggs, a true gem.
If your children like books, go to one of our many libraries. The children’s centers often have tot-sized chairs, as well as toys and playhouses. Your child can discover the wonderful world of reading at any age. Find one near you at www.ppld.org. You can even check in advance to see if they have the books you want and place a hold or transfer. Best of all, it’s completely free–as long as you turn your materials in on time. The East Library off of Union even has a coffee shop.
The North Pole, Home of Santa’s Workshop, is actually in Cascade, half-way between Pueblo and Colorado Springs. This indoor winter wonderland has a Christmas Tree Ride, carousel, Aerial Tram, miniature train, and two dozen other rides. Kids can meet Santa and his elves, feed goats and llamas, and watch tons of shows. You can browse the shops for unique Christmas gifts while your kids watch the magic show or visit Santa’s house. There’s an arcade, too. And of course, the North Pole wouldn’t be completely without tons of snow! They’re open Saturday and Sunday from April 14 – May 13 and daily May 19-August 12, except for May 23. From August 20 to December 23, they are open daily except Wednesdays and Thursdays, because they are extra busy preparing for Christmas. It’s $17 a person, but they have discounts and money-saving family packages.
Nickel-A-Play is off of Platte near Academy. Admission is $2.50. They have a ton of games, only a nickel each to play. It’s one big air conditioned room of video game fun, open year round. They also have Skeeball and over 20 games that are actually free to play. Have your kids save their nickels, and bring them here for a fun day of gaming. Parents may enjoy playing some of their childhood favorites. You can play all day without spending much at all.
No matter how much time you have or what your price range is, you can always find a fun indoor activity in Colorado Springs. You can go bowling or skating, or visit an attraction unique to Colorado Springs like Mr. Biggs. Your kids will be entertained, and you just might have some fun, too. What are you waiting for? Let loose, and have some fun with your kids. No matter what the weather, it’s always nice inside.
